Inter-island sport being killed off by poor travel options

Some years ago I was in Jersey and on Saturday at 5pm I was told that the boat was cancelled for Sunday night. I was doing a three-day event and was going to do the hill climb in Guernsey on Monday.

I had to be at the harbour at 6am to be told there was no boat to Guernsey. So I had to go to St Malo then stay on the boat and then to Guernsey to be at the hill climb on Monday.

Many people could put their bags and clubs/racquets and with four others go Friday night on the boat after work, play Saturday and Sunday and back Sunday night and back to work Monday and no time lost from your holidays.

Now you could fly, but how about all your kit and hire cars over £300, it does not add up.

The school kids that play for their clubs and island need to be back at school on Monday and the coaches and helpers have their time to think about.

I have been told to do a two-day event with horses. The boat is back on Tuesday so you could be away for seven days. The horses cannot be in their horse boxes and will have to be put in stables and more hotel nights.

All sports cannot work if you cannot get inter- island travel for just the time you need to be there. If you have to take Thursday/Friday one week and Monday/Tuesday the next week it will make the holiday planner have a meltdown.

So many people travel for weekend sports. This is killing sport and a loss to hotels in the wintertime.

johnarobert@cwgsy.net